Paris - Roubaix 1996

Brief Summary

Mapei 1, 2, 3 in prearranged order

Paris-Roubaix 1996 was totally dominated by the Mapei-GB team. Three
Mapei-riders, Tafi, Museeuw and Bortolami began their triumph parade in
Tilloy-les-Marchiennes on the 11th of the 22 pave sections, 86 km from the
finish.

Franco Ballerini punctured no less than three times in 12 km and just
missed being the fourth Mapei-rider, making up a full team time trial
squad.

The sprint was 'fixed' 15 km from the finish. Then Mapei Directeur sportif
Patrick Lefevere got the order by car phone that Museeuw must win from
Mapei-boss Squinzi in Milan.

What happened to Olaf Ludwig?

Olaf Ludwig, 36 years old the day before the race, and one of the favourites
in what was his last appearance (having been 16th in 1990, 9th in 1991,
2nd in 1992, 3rd in 1993, 4th in 1994 and 24th in 1995) was active in the
big early escape but lost contact after the Arenberg cobbles when he punctured
(km161). He crashed while chasing after the lead group and briefly lost
consciousnesss. The doctors said he could have restarted, but he chose
not to.

Telekom's work seriously stretched out the peloton and also led to 40
riders bridging to the break at km56.5. Most of the race favourites were in
this group which hit the first stretch of cobbles at Troisvilles (km98.5) with
50 seconds on the rest of the peloton.

At the third sector of cobbles (Zone 20--about km110) Peeters (Mapei),
Zabel (Telekom) and Desbiens (GAN) launched an attack and Museeuw
(Mapei) bridged up to them. The four worked well together, but
Peeters put in extra work on behalf of Museeuw. Behind, the peloton came
together at km126, and was 1.30 behind.

At Valenciennes (139km) Serpellini (Panaria) went after the four leaders
and joined with them immediately before the Arenberg cobbles (154km).
But the peloton was closing and entered the Arenberg section only 20 seconds
behind the five leaders. During this section Peeters and Museeuw eased off to
await the peloton; Desbiens, Zabel and Serpellini pressed on but were caught
at km161 (cobbles Zone 13).

In the lead group of 20, Ballerini punctured three times in Zones 12 and
11 of cobbles [ie three times in about 10km at about km175]. The second
was particularly unfortunate, coinciding with the rest of the Mapei piling
on the pressure at the front. Ballerini got up to Tchmil, punctured the third
time, got up to Tchmil again.... but Tafi, Bortolami and Museeuw were away.

The three Mapei stretched out a lead despite a puncture for Museeuw
on Zone 10 (about km187). Tafi and Bortolami went on but were instructed
to ease off for Museeuw to get back on. After a while the gap between the
three Mapei and the next group -- Tchmil (Lotto), Ekimov (Rabobank),
Zanini (Gewiss) and Ballerini (Mapei) -- stabilised at 1.05. Ballerini did
nothing to help the chase.

Towards Seclin (about km219) Tafi, Bortolami and Museeuw had 1.45
on the chasers when Tchmil missed a corner and Ballerini took the
opportunity to move clear with Zanini.

With Ballerini effectively chasing, he and Zanini had brought the gap
down to a minute at Cysoing (km235). The Mapei team car dropped back
and directeur-sportif Patrick Lefevere instructed Ballerini to ease off.

With the three leaders working hard together, Museeuw punctured with
8km to go and some confusion seemed to break out as to strategy -- but
Tafi and Bortolami waited for him.

On the velodrome at Roubaix, the three Mapei respected the order of
finish ordained by Lefevere.